Today, a growing number of customers, shareholders, and employees want to buy from, invest in, and work for companies that instill social and environmental responsibility into every aspect of their products and services, as well as generate a measurable positive impact. In this light, business decisions that are singularly focused on financial gains leave substantial social and environmental value on the table. They also introduce the multi-faceted risks of inaction.

EDITOR'S DESK

Mike Keenan, CPP, CFI, LPC, Managing Director, Retail Loss Prevention at TAL Global Corporation, is a firm advocate for awareness programs in retail. According to Keenan, one of the most critical components to a successful LP program is fully utilizing employees in supporting the company’s loss prevention strategy, as every employee can play a role in controlling loss and promoting safety. He states that a knowledgeable and well-trained employee will be more engaged; they will be better at executing processes; they will be more likely to comply with policies and procedures; they will be less likely to steal and more likely to report those who do; and they will be more committed to keeping themselves and those around them safe.

With a new year getting under way, it’s a good time to consider the major trends affecting our industry. 2018 promises to be another action-packed year, especially in the retail space, where much disruption is taking place thanks to the adoption of new technologies and the ongoing battle between online and brick-and-mortar players. Here are the major trends to watch in 2018:

The branch is a tough, hostile IT environment. The distributed nature of branch IT presents the IT team with a real and unique set of security and compliance challenges that are radically different from the datacenter. This is a problem, as retail branches are often on the front line when it comes to modern cyber-attacks.

It seems product recalls are now the norm on a wide range of products from cellphones to ATVs, high heels, children’s clothing, and more. In one week, the CPSC reported several recalls on its website: incorrect venting Nutrilife® hydrogen peroxide bottles cause fires or burns; By Gary Barraco, Director, Global Product Marketing, Amber Road